Arrangement for securing walls together

ABSTRACT

Arrangement for securing walls together. An arrangement for disconnectably securing two walls together chiefly for securing a wall, confining laterally a compressed fluid cushion carrying or guiding a ground effect machine, with the wall confining said cushion in a plane parallel with the surface with reference to which the machine is carried or guided with the interposition of cushions. To this end, a trough rigid with last-mentioned wall engages a member carrying the other wall. Means are provided for releasably securing the two walls together and for ensuring fluidtightness for the joint between them.

United States Patent Cruchant ARRANGEMENT FOR SECURING WALLS TOGETHER [72] Inventor: Serge Alfred Joseph Cruchant, Bagneux, France [73] Assignee: Societe de France [22] Filed: April8, 1970 [21] Appl.N0.: 26,722

L'Aerotrain, Paris,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data April 10, 1969 France ..69 l 1042 [52] US. Cl. ..180/l27, 104/23 FS [51] Int. Cl ..B60v H16 [58] Field of Search ..l80/l27, 128, 124

[56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS I 5/1970" Giraud .,..;is0/1 27 1 Oct. 3, 1972 Giraud ..l80/l27 X 3,578,768 Giraud ..l80/l27 X Primary Examiner-A. Harry Levy Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [57] ABSTRACT Arrangement for securing walls together.

An arrangement for disconnectably securing two walls together chiefly for securing a wall, confining laterally a compressed fluid cushion carrying or guiding a ground effect machine, with the wall confining said cushion in a plane parallel with the surface with reference to which the machine is carried or guided with the interposition of cushions. To this end, a trough rigid with last-mentioned wall engages a member carrying the other wall. Means are provided for releasably. securing the two'walls together and for ensuring fluidtightness for the joint between them.

19 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnm 3 I972 sum 1 [IF 3 \fiii I'NVENTOR SERGE A. J. CRUCHANT WMWW ATTORNEYS Fig-9 ARRANGEMENT i on stacumuciwAus TOGETHER My invention has for its object an arrangement for securing a first wall onto a second wall the surfaces of said wallsforming together a dihedral. Said arrangement includes means for positioning the walls, further means for holding the first wall in position with reference to the second w'all and for releasing it with reference to the latter and still further means ensuring the fluidtightnessof the joint between the two walls.

The wall 'positionin'g means include at least one trough or groove rigid with a second wall and a member rigid with the first wall and cooperating with said trough.

The means holding the first wall in position with reference to the second wall and adaptedto release it with reference to the latter include hooks distributed at different intervals and adapted to pivot with reference to the second wall, said hooks cooperating with staples formed in the first wall and registering'with said According to a modification, last-mentioned means -include atleast one removable bar'cooperatingwitha fraction of the second wall and an extreme fraction of the first wall;

According to a still further modification, said means holding the first wall in position include a member the incurved end of which forms pincers, said member being rigidly secured to the second wall through a spindlearound which itis adapted to pivot. so as to clamp the first wall onto the second wall.

The means ensuring fluidti'ghtness between the first and the second wall are constitutedby packings made of an elastomer or the like suitable material, which packings are fitted between said walls.

It is of adva'ntageto complete the positioning of the first wall with reference to the second wall in a transverse direction by means of at least one centering member rigid withthe second wall and adapted to engage a corresponding port formed in the first wall.

My invention is particularly applicable to'the positioning and holding in position of a lateral wall confining a cushion of a compressed fluid'for a ground effect machine with reference to another confining wall facing'the surface with which said cushion cooperates.

As a matter of fact, the lateral confining wall (or side-wall) moving in proximity with such a surface may suffer, by reason of the unevennesses of the latter, by the wear and tear leading to the necessity of replacing said walls, while the duration of dismantling of the worn wall and the duration of re-assernbling of a new wall should be as short as possible in order to reduce as much as possible the inoperative periods of the machine.

The following description discloses by way of example and in a non-limiting sense various embodiments of l the invention so as to allow aproper understanding of the latter, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

FIG. 1 is adiagrammatic side view of a ground'effect machine provided with an arrangement according 'to my invention.

defined by a 'dot-and-dash circle so as to show a first embodiment of my invention.

. FIG. 3 is a cross-section through line III-III of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view on a smaller scale of a portion of a modification, the cross-section extending through line lV-IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through line V V of FIG. 6 illustrating on a larger scale the above-mentioned detail A of FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment of my invention. a

FIG. 6is a sectional view through line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view through line VII-VII of FIG. '8 illustrating on a larger scale said detail A of FIG. 1 according to a third embodiment thereof.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view through line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a transverse elevational sectional view of a ground effect machine carried and guided over a prepared track with the interposition of cushions of compressed fluid and incorporating my improved arrang'eme'nt.

Turning tofFlG.- 1, r 1 designates a ground effect machine carried and" guided by cushions of a compressed fluid cooperating with a supporting surface 40,

each cushion 3a being defined by confining walls 3 and by a horizontal base structure 2 connected for instance with the lower wall of the frame 1 of the machine through at least one yielding wall 4. The latter defines with the frame I and plate 2 a chamber 4a filled with compressed fluid.

The means connecting the supporting plate with a confining wall are executed in conformity with my invention. u

FIGS. 2' and 3 illustrate a first embodiment of my improved arrangement adapted to position and hold in position the confining wall panel 3 enclosing laterally the cushion of compressed fluid 3a on the base structure 2.

The confining wall panel 3 is'rigidly secured through rivetting or otherwise to a member 5 which may be termedthe wall-panel support means and which is provided with two extensions 50 between which a portion of said confining wall panel 3 is fitted. Said wall-panel support means 5 extends upwardly to form a projection edge 50 which is advantageously incurved with reference to the plane of symmetry of the wall panel support means and cooperates with an abutment means in the shape of a trough 6 rigid with the base structure 2. A yielding packing 7 secured to the base structure 2 through anysuitable means such as rivets or glue engages the surface 5b of the wall-panel support means 5 so as to ensure fluidtightness. Said yielding packing may as well be rigid with the wall-panel support means 5 and engages fluidtightly the base structure 2. The extension edge 5a, trough abutment 6 and yielding packing 7 are fitted within a recess 2a of the base structure 2.

Within a recess 2b defined by a casing 20 rigid with the base structure '2, there is fitted a hook 9 adapted to pivot round a spindle 10 rigid with the casing 20 and cooperating with a staple 8 rigid with the wall-panel support means 5. The hook 9 is urged by a coil spring 11 surrounding the spindle 10 into a direction holding said hook 9 within the staple 8. One end 11a of said spring 11 engages the casing 2c while the other end 1 lb engages the lateral surface of the hook 9. The end 12a of a hooking spring or the like trigger member 12 adapted to hold the parts in position is rigidly secured for instance through rivets to the wall 20 and is adapted to cooperate with the free end 9a of the hook 9 and to hold said hook in a position such that the confining wall panel 3 is released with reference to the base structure 2 as illustrated in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, it is possible to distribute at intervals a plurality of arrangements such as that which has just been described for cooperation with a trough abutment 6 extending throughout the length of the confining wall or else with a plurality of troughs 6a located at intervals as illustrated in FIG. 4. At least one centering pin 13 rigid with the portion 2a of the base structure 2 is adapted to engage a recess d formed in an extension 5a of the wall panel support means 5, which allows an adjustment of the transverse position of the confining wall panel 3 with reference to the base structure 2.

The securing means which have just been described operate as follows:

For dismantling the wall panel 3 with reference to the base structure 2, it is sufficient to set the hook 9 in the position illustrated in dot-and-dash lines, the end 9a of the hook cooperating with the trigger 12 holding it in position. It is then possible to remove the wall panel 3 by causing the edge 5a of the wall panel support means to pivot inside the trough abutment 6.

In order to secure the wall panel 3 on the base structure 2, the hook 9 should be released with reference to i the trigger 12 holding it so that the hook may return into the position illustrated in solid lines. The edge 5a of the wall-panel support means 5 which is engaged by the wall panel 3 is then caused to enter the trough abutment 6, care being taken to set the notches or recess 5d in registry with the centering pins 13, after which the whole arrangement 5-3 is caused to pivot until'the staple 8 engages the hook 9 which is subjected to the action of the coil spring 11. The unit constituted by the wall-panel support means 5,'the wall panel 3 and the staple 8 is thus held fast between the trough abutment 6 and an arresting means 14 of the base structure 2, wherein the unit is held fast in its operative position.

The packing 7 crushed over the surface 5b of the wall-panel support means 5 provides for fluidtightness between the wall panel 3 and the base structure 2.

It should be remarked that, when a compressed fluid is introduced into a fluid cushion defined by such a confining wall panel, the pressure of said fluid furthers the clamping of said wall panel between the trough abutment 6 and the arresting means 14 and the holding in position of said wall panel on the base structure is thus made secure.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of my improved arrangement. The wall panel 3 is rigidly secured to a wall-panel support means 15 for instance by means of rivets, said wall panel support means being provided with preferably incurved edges 16a and 16b. The edge 16a engages a trough abutment l7 rigid with the base structure 2 while the edge 16b cooperates in ball-andsocket association with the end of a locking strut member 18 which engages through its opposite end the shoulder 19 of a member rigidly secured to the base structure. A spindle 20 rigid with the strut member 18 carries a tubular stay 21, a washer and a further stay 24. A coil spring 22 is fitted between the two stays and the system 22, 24, 25, is held in position with reference to the strut member 18 by a nut 23 screwed over the end of the spindle 20. The outer ends 220 and 22b of the spring 22 engage grooves 27 formed in corresponding studs 26, which latter are rigid with the base structure 2, while notches 26 a are provided in the strut member 18 so as to afford a passage for the stud 26 through the latter member 18.

A yielding packing 28 secured to the base structure 2 engages the wall panel support means 15. At least one centering pin 29 rigid with the base structure provides for the transverse positioning of the strut member 18 and of the confining wall panel 3 through cooperation with at least two notches 30 and 30a provided respectively in the strut member 18 and in the edge 16b of the wall-panel support means.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, several of the arrangements of the type illustrated in FIG. 5 may be positioned at intervals on the confining wall panel. Obviously, as was the case with the precedingly described embodiment, it is possible to provide a single trough abutment 17 throughout the length of the wall panel 3 or else a plurality of independent troughs distributed at intervals along said wall panel. Similarly, the yielding packing 28 may as well be rigidly secured to the wall panel support means 15 and engage fluid tightly the base structure 2. It is also possible to provide any number of strut members 18 and studs 26.

The operation of the embodiment last described is as follows:

To dismantle the confining wall panel 3 with reference to the base structure 2, it is sufficient to disengage the ends 22a and 22b of the spring 22 from their clutch engagement with reference to the grooves 27 of the studs 26, after which the operator releases through a screw-driver or the like suitable means the strut member 18 and removes thenafter the confining wall panel 3 out of the trough abutment 17.

For the assembly of the wall panel 3, the wall-panel support means 15 is introduced into the trough abutment l7, care being taken to position the notches 30a in registry with the centering pins 29. The strut member 18 is then fitted between the rounded edge 16b of the wall-panel support means 15 and the shoulder 19 of the member secured to the base structure. It is then sufficient to force the outer ends 22a and 22b of the springs 22 in clutch engagement with the grooves 27 of the studs 26. The packing 28 is thus crushed between the wall-panel support means 15 and the base structure 2 so as to ensure fluidtightness while constituting an arresting means combining the functions of parts 7 and 14 of the precedingly described embodiment. As then, the wall panel 3 and the wall-panel support means 15 are propped by the pressure exerted by the strut member 18 and when compressed fluid is introduced into the cushion, the pressure of said fluid furthers the propping of the confining wall panel and holds it thus in position with reference to the base structure.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a further modification of my improved arrangement. The confining wall panel 3 is rigid with a wall-panel support means 31 one edge 31a of which is folded substantially at right angles with reference to its main portion while its opposite edge 31b is preferably incurved. The first-mentioned edge 31a is housed inside a trough abutment 32a forming one end of a plate member 32 rigid with the base structure 2, the other end of said plate member 32 being rounded at 32b in registry with the second edge 31b of the wall-panel support means 31. A clip 33 forming. a rocker substantially with two right-angled legs is adapted to pivot around a spindle 34 rigid with the plate member 32 and perpendicular thereto. The end 33a of said rocker clip is bent so as to act as pincers. Means for locking said rocker clip 33 are advantageously provided, saidlocking means being constituted, in the example illustrated, by a spring blade 33b transversely secured to the rocker clip 33 and the outer free end of which carries a projection adapted to engage an opening 32c in the member'32. At least one centering pin 35 rigid with the base structure 2 ensures the transverse positioning of the confining wall panel 3 with reference to said base structure asprovided by a notch 37 formed in the wall-panel support means 31. A yielding packing 36 rigid with the member 32 ensures fluidtightness and forms an arresting means.

? Obviously and in a manner similar to what was described hereinbefore, it is possible to resort to a single trough abutment 32a or else toa plurality of troughs distributed longitudinally of the confining wall panel 3. Similarly, the packing 36 may be rigidly secured to the confining wallpanel 3 and engage the member 32. It is possible to provide anydesired number of centering pins and of rocker clips.

The operation is as follows:

In order to dismantle the wall panel 3, it is necessary to first release the rocker clips 33 and to make it turn round its spindle 34 so as to bring it into the position illustrated in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 8 after overcoming the resistance provided by the passage of the pincers 33a-over the end 31b of the wall-panel support means 31 and over the end 32b of the member 32. This being done, it is possible to release the wall panel 3. ln order to assemble the wall panel 3, said wall panel is first positioned after taking care to set the notch 37 of the wall panel support means 31 in registry with the centering pin 35, the edge 31a of said wall panel support means engaging the trough abutment 32a formed by the member 32.

The wall panel 3 and wall-panel support means 31 are then set against the yielding packing 36 and the rocker clip 33 is caused to rotate in a direction opposed to that precedingly described so as to set it in the position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 8, the end 31b of the wall panel support means 31 and the end 32b of the member 32 holding the rocker clip fast in said position.

The pincers 33a urge thus the wall panel support means 1 31 towards the plate member 32, the packing 36 being crushed therebetween and thereby ensuring fluidtightness and forming an arresting means. The rocker clip is then looked in the position thus assumed. The operation is the same for each of the rocker clips if a plurality of rocker clips is provided.

My invention is advantageously applicable to ground effect machines carried and/or guided by means of cushions of compressed fluid. For instance and as illustrated in FIG. 9 the machine 1 may cooperate with a track 40 the cross-section of which is in the shape of an inverted T including two carrier sections 40b and a medial vertical guiding extension 400, the machine being carried and/or guided through the agency of cushions of compressed fluid acting as supports 3b or as guides 3c. In such a case, the cushions 3b and/or 3c may be executed in accordance with my invention.

lclaim:

1. A quick release device for selectively clamping to a base structure movable along and in spaced relationship with a surface, a removable wall panel which, when clamped in position, has an inner edge adjacent said base structure and an outer edge adjacent said surface, said wall panel extending at a substantial angular inclination with respect to said base structure to form therewith a generally dihedral assembly of the kind designed for bounding a plenum chamber, wherein the improvement comprises:

abutment means fast with and projecting from said base structure,

rigid wall panel support means projecting from said inner edge and engaging said abutment means to form a hinge-like association therewith allowing pivotal motion of said wall panel with respect to said base structure, said support means being disengageable from said abutment means for removal of said wall panel,

arresting means on said base structure engageable by said wall panel upon pivotal motion thereof about said abutment means, to limit said pivotal motion, and

releasable locking means borne by said base structure for selectively clamping said wall panel against said arresting means or releasing said wall panel for rotation away therefrom.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises a lock member engageable with and disengageable from an integral portion of said wall panel, and resilient means for keeping said lock member in engagement with said portion, whereby disengagement of said lock member therefrom requires overcoming the biasing action of said resilient means.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lock member comprises ahook pivotally fitted on said base structure, and said wall panel portion comprises a staple element integral therewith and cooperating with said hook.

4. Device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said resilient means comprises a coil spring fitted about the pivot of said hook.

5. Device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising hooking means for holding said lock member in disengaged position against the biasing action of said resilient means.

6. Device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said hooking means comprises a resilient trigger fast with said base structure.

7. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidreleasable hooking-means comprises a strut member insertable between said wall panel portion and an integral part of said base structure, said strut member being removable from the inserted position thereof.

8. Device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said strut member and said wall panel portion comprise curved ends in mutual ball-and-socket type association.

9. Device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said resilient means comprises a spring borne by said strut member and in disengageable clutch engagement with said base structure.

1 n limit n10) 10. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lock member and said resilient means are combined to form a resilient clip tightening together with said wall panel portion and an integral part of said base structure.

1 1. Device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said wall panel portion and said base structure part comprise planar sections applied against each other by said clip which straddles the same.

'12. Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said clip is pivotally fitted on said integral part of said base structure.

13. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wall panel, when locked against said arresting means; is in sealing engagement therewith.

14. Device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sealing engagement comprises a packing interposed between said wall panel support means and an integral part of said base structure.

15. Device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said Ail packing is spaced from the zone of engagement of said wall panel and said arresting means and bridges the same.

16. Device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said packing is incorporated in said arresting means and sandwiched between said wall panel and said base structure.

17. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said abutment means comprises a trough-like member, and said wall panel support means comprises an edge fitted in the concavity of said trough-like member.

18. Device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said edge is curved in opposite curvature relation with said trough-like member.

19. Device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising pins for longitudinally locating said wall panel relative to said base structure. 

1. A quick release device for selectively clamping to a base structure movable along and in spaced relationship with a surface, a removable wall panel which, when clamped in position, has an inner edge adjacent said base structure and an outer edge adjacent said surface, said wall panel extending at a substantial angular inclination with respect to said base structure to form therewith a generally dihedral assembly of the kind designed for bounding a plenum chamber, wherein the improvement comprises: abutment means fast with and projecting from said base structure, rigid wall panel support means projecting from said inner edge and engaging said abutment means to form a hinge-like association therewith allowing pivotal motion of said wall panel with respect to said base structure, said support means being disengageable from said abutment means for removal of said wall panel, arresting means on said base structure engageable by said wall panel upon pivotal motion thereof about said abutment means, to limit said pivotal motion, and releasable locking means borne by said base structure for selectively clamping said wall panel against said arresting means or releasing said wall panel for rotation away therefrom.
 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises a lock member engageable with and disengageable from an integral portion of said wall panel, and resilient means for keeping said lock member in engagement with said portion, whereby disengagement of said lock member therefrom requires overcoming the biasing action of said resilient means.
 3. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lock member comprises a hook pivotally fitted on said bAse structure, and said wall panel portion comprises a staple element integral therewith and cooperating with said hook.
 4. Device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said resilient means comprises a coil spring fitted about the pivot of said hook.
 5. Device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising hooking means for holding said lock member in disengaged position against the biasing action of said resilient means.
 6. Device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said hooking means comprises a resilient trigger fast with said base structure.
 7. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said releasable hooking means comprises a strut member insertable between said wall panel portion and an integral part of said base structure, said strut member being removable from the inserted position thereof.
 8. Device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said strut member and said wall panel portion comprise curved ends in mutual ball-and-socket type association.
 9. Device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said resilient means comprises a spring borne by said strut member and in disengageable clutch engagement with said base structure.
 10. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lock member and said resilient means are combined to form a resilient clip tightening together with said wall panel portion and an integral part of said base structure.
 11. Device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said wall panel portion and said base structure part comprise planar sections applied against each other by said clip which straddles the same.
 12. Device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said clip is pivotally fitted on said integral part of said base structure.
 13. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wall panel, when locked against said arresting means, is in sealing engagement therewith.
 14. Device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sealing engagement comprises a packing interposed between said wall panel support means and an integral part of said base structure.
 15. Device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said packing is spaced from the zone of engagement of said wall panel and said arresting means and bridges the same.
 16. Device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said packing is incorporated in said arresting means and sandwiched between said wall panel and said base structure.
 17. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said abutment means comprises a trough-like member, and said wall panel support means comprises an edge fitted in the concavity of said trough-like member.
 18. Device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said edge is curved in opposite curvature relation with said trough-like member.
 19. Device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising pins for longitudinally locating said wall panel relative to said base structure. 